Plant shrubs in the garden

The term 'bush' is the slang term for a shrub. It has no main trunk but many thin, woody trunks. Bushes can impress in many ways. Be it through their abundance of flowers or a magnificent foliage. The dwindling blooms of some species are replaced by edible fruits or decorative berries. Bushes that convince with several arguments become a real eye-catcher.

Best planting time

There is no single best time to plant bushes. In principle, they can be planted both in spring and in autumn. Depending on the root packaging, the planting time can sometimes be extended into the summer months. While bare-rooted goods should be planted by March at the latest, this is possible up until May for balled goods and all year round for containerized goods.

planting in spring

In spring, when the ground is completely frost-free and no longer too wet, frost-sensitive shrubs or bushes should be bought and planted, e.g. B. hibiscus, hydrangeas or evergreens.

• Plant berry bushes by the end of March if possible
• Plant robust deciduous trees until the beginning of budding in April/May
• For bare-root ornamental shrubs, extend the planting time to mid-May at the latest
• This early planting allows them to survive the first winter better
• Late planting in autumn, not recommended for these trees
• Planting in spring requires more intensive care
• The plants initially need a lot of water to root

Plant in autumn/winter

Autumn planting is particularly useful in regions with mild winters and dry summers.

• Shrubs in containers can be planted all year round
• However, planting between September and October is optimal
• Ideally plant bare-rooted shrubs from late September to April
• It is best to buy in the fall and get into the ground without delay
• Plant evergreen and evergreen shrubs until the beginning of September if possible
• They retain all or most of their foliage in winter
• They also evaporate water through the leaves in winter
• Consequently, they should be well rooted by the onset of winter

With bare-rooted shrubs, it becomes problematic from May, because the fresh shoots can be due to due to the fact that the roots have not yet fully grown in, are not sufficiently supplied with water become. Even copious watering doesn't always help.

Plant shrubs properly

soil preparation

Before you start planting, the soil in the planting area should be prepared accordingly so that the bushes can root well deep in the ground. For this purpose, the soil should be loosened well down to the deeper layers. Heavy clay soils can be made more permeable by mixing in sand or gravel. On the other hand, the structure and storage capacity of sandy soils can be improved with loam or natural clay mineral powder. Soil-improving measures such as adding peat, compost or high-quality potting soil also reward the plants with healthy and vigorous growth.

planting

To help the plants grow in, place them in a water bath for about 10 minutes before planting. In the meantime, a sufficiently large planting hole is dug. A drainage layer of gravel or grit in the planting hole can protect against waterlogging and soil compaction in the future. Then insert the plant in the middle, fill the planting hole with soil and press it down well. To prevent irrigation water from running away, it is advisable to create a watering rim around the plant.

Fast growing bushes and shrubs

Fast-growing bushes offer a wide range of design options, be it in groups of plants of the same species, e.g. B. from different types of rhododendrons or individually. They are particularly effective when combined with other species that differ in shape and color of flowers and leaves or growth habit. The selection of suitable trees and shrubs is almost inexhaustible.

flowering shrubs

Farmer's jasmine 'Philadelphus coronarius'

The farmer's jasmine, also known as European chanterelle tree, has a stiffly upright and overhanging habit with growth heights of up to 300 cm. The highlight of this undemanding plant are the radiant white flowers, which appear from May to June and form an intense contrast to the deep green foliage. Farmer's jasmine can be planted alone, in groups or with other trees, e.g. B. be combined in a flowering hedge. It thrives in sunny and partially shaded locations and in any garden soil.

Mother-of-pearl shrub 'Kolkwitzia amabilis'

The mother-of-pearl shrub grows as a dense, spreading bush and is covered all over with bright pink to red-white and sweetly scented umbels from May to June. Its waterfall-like, overhanging growth appears very graceful, reaching heights of up to 350 cm. This plant is undemanding, easy to care for, shade-tolerant and cut-tolerant.

Double snowball - Viburnum opulus 'Roseum'

The charm of this plant is its up to 8 cm large white and filled flower balls. They stand out from the green leaves and unfold their full splendor from May to June with a spectacular long-distance effect. Sunny locations and moist, well-drained soil are ideal.

Summer lilac 'Buddleja davidii'

The summer lilac, also known as the butterfly bush, grows as a deciduous, evergreen or evergreen semi-shrub with numerous cultivated forms, different flower colors and growth heights. While the smallest varieties grow to around 150 cm in height, the largest reach heights of up to 400 cm. The large spikes of white, pink, rose-red, lavender or deep purple flowers are a magnet for butterflies. This undemanding and easy-care plant really comes into its own in summer flower beds, perennial beds in full sun, but also in a solitary position.

Garden marshmallow 'Lavender Chiffon'

This garden marshmallow is a particularly pretty example of the hibiscus genus. Its very large, semi-double, violet-pink flowers with a red center catch the eye from afar. Flowering time is from July to September. The flowers exude tropical flair and form an intense contrast to the ovate, medium-green leaves. The growth is bushy, upright, with growth heights of up to 200 cm. These fast-growing bushes can be cultivated as specimen plants, in a flowering hedge or as a container plant.

Shrub chestnut Aesculus parviflora

The shrub chestnut scores not only from July to August with 30 cm long, upright white panicles of flowers, its foliage is also very attractive. While the shoots are bright red, the leaves are later intense green and golden yellow in autumn. This bushy and sprawling shrub grows up to 400 cm high and looks particularly elegant in a single position. It is suitable for full sun and semi-shady locations and evenly moist soil.

scented shrubs

Mustache 'Heavenly Blue'

This bushy and compact growing shrub with many shoots remains comparatively small with a maximum growth height of 100 cm. The greatest adornment of this plant are the deep dark blue flowers in the form of cymes, which make this bush shine from August to October. Its leaves, which are green on top and silvery on the underside, give off an aromatic scent. To thrive, it needs plenty of sun and well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. In winter, the bearded beard usually dries back a lot, but will reliably sprout again after being cut back in spring.

Double garden jasmine / mock orange 'Virginal'

This fast-growing, deciduous shrub is best known for its bright white, double flowers. They adorn the bush from the end of May to the beginning of July and exude an intense fragrance. Re-blooming may occur in late summer. These richly flowering bushes can grow up to 300 cm in height and 250 cm in width. They are very tolerant of location and care. As a solitaire in the middle of a lawn, this garden jasmine is a real eye-catcher, but is also suitable for group plantings.

Spice shrub 'Calycanthus floridus'

This spice shrub has its big appearance from May until well into the summer. Namely when its unusual, brown-red flowers exude their heavy, spicy and far-reaching scent of cloves and strawberries in the evening hours. But not only the flowers, also the leaves and bark smell of cloves. Even the Indians used the aromatic power of this impressive, up to 300 cm high plant. It thrives well in sun and partial shade as well as in humus-rich and loose garden soil. It has a spectacular effect alone or in a group, especially in a scented garden.

Spanish broom (Spartium junceum)

Spanish gorse, also known as gorse or rush broom, attracts attention in spring with its bright yellow flowers, which sit on rod-like stalks typical of gorse. The highlight of this pretty plant, however, is the sweet, jasmine-like scent that can be perceived from a distance. These deciduous, fast-growing shrubs grow up to 300 cm in height under ideal conditions. The dark green needle-like leaves, which are up to 50 cm long, are also unusual and beautiful to look at. Spanish broom feels particularly comfortable in the sun.

fruit bushes

Japanese ornamental quince 'Chaenomeles japonica'

The Japanese ornamental quince is an extremely attractive shrub that grows up to 30 cm a year. From March to April it is covered all over with small brick-red flowers that give every garden an Asian flair. In addition, these bushes produce edible fruits that are very pleasantly fragrant. With growth heights of up to 100 cm, they remain rather small, but no less beautiful. Due to its sparse growth, it is very well suited for dense, impenetrable hedges. But it also has an effect when planted alone or in groups, for example with different colored bulbs.

Black Elderberry 'Haschberg'

The black elderberry Sambucus nigra 'Haschberg', also called lilac berry, is a fast-growing bush or shrub that can reach a height of 400 cm. Shrub. The snow-white flower plates, which spread a sweet scent, appear as early as May. In early summer, the black fruit umbels follow, which can be harvested from around September. Elder loves sunny to semi-shady locations and humus-rich soil. It can be used in a variety of ways in the garden, be it as a fruit tree, fruit tree or flowering tree, in a flowering or colorful hedge or simply as a solitary tree.

Common barberry 'Berberis vulgaris'

The common barberry is a thorny deciduous shrub. It is also known as sour thorn and vinegar berry. From May to June it is adorned with countless bright yellow flowers that stand out clearly against the green foliage. They later develop into orange-red to dark red, edible fruits, which are ready to be harvested around October. In autumn, the yellow-orange to bright red autumn leaves are also very decorative. The sour thorn can grow up to 300 cm in height and is otherwise very undemanding.

Purple hazel / blood hazel 'Purpurea' Corylus maxima 'Purpurea'

Among the many fast-growing bushes, the purple hazel cannot be missing. The most striking thing about her is the bright red leaves when they sprout and later constantly black-red, which does not turn green even in dark locations. The flowers of this medium-sized shrub, small red catkins up to 6 cm long, appear before they sprout. The red-brown nuts can then be harvested in autumn. The blood hazel can grow up to 300 cm high and makes little demands on location and care.

Learn more about trees & shrubs